Recent Storm Damage Posts

The IICRC provides training and certification to restoration companies

SERVPRO of Ozone Park / Jamaica Bay Is An IICRC Firm

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.

Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.

Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.

Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.

Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

About SERVPRO of Ozone Park / Jamaica Bay

SERVPRO of Ozone Park / Jamaica Bay specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

CALL SERVPRO OF OZONE PARK/ JAMAICA BAY TODAY - 347-233-2305

Know What To Throw: Flood Damage and Contamination

If major flood waters hit Queens, NY, residents have the unfortunate job of cleaning out their homes from damaged items. News videos of these flooded areas often show the contents of the homes piled on the curbs. Beds, dressers, couches, appliances, and more can be seen. You may be asking, “why does everything have to be thrown away?” The answer lies in the type of water that penetrated the house. Content cleaning should be done if gray water or black water is present.

Determining What To Throw Away

If items sit in contaminated water, they can become contaminated, too. Trying to be frugal can be dangerous to your health. The difference, however, is in the types of material. Anything porous will likely have to be disposed of; anything nonporous can be cleaned or decontaminated and used. Some content cleaning may need to be done professionally.

Dealing With Porous Materials

Anything that cannot be thoroughly disinfected should be discarded, or you risk keeping potential health hazards in your home. These are some examples:

Food

Books and toys

Carpets and rugs

Couches and mattresses

Dry wall and insulation

Deciding on Nonporous Materials

If water is not able to penetrate the surface, then any contaminants may just sit and can be cleaned. These items should be thoroughly decontaminated with bleach, detergent, and hot water.

Canned goods (toss the label)

Working appliances

Countertops

Floors

Whole House Systems

Household systems such as the heating or air conditioning are the types of content cleaning that should be professionally done to prevent the growth of mold and other contaminants. These can then be spread into the home through the vents.

The Centers for Disease Control warn that the time to try and save or be frugal is not after a major flood, especially with the potential for gray and black water. It’s often best to dispose of items or have professionals come in to clean and restore the home.

What You Need To Know About Business Interruption Insurance

What You Need To Know About Business Interruption Insurance

When there is bad weather in Whitestone, NY, it can sometimes affect your business for a while after the storm has passed. If your place of business suffers damage, you might not be able to operate as usual while you rebuild. If this happens, it can be helpful to have business interruption insurance. Here are a few questions you can ask to see if this type of insurance is something that would benefit you.

1. When Do You Need It?

There are situations when you might need to temporarily close your business, which can result in loss of income. Incidents such as a fire or big storms can cause damage to the building in which you do your business, and you will likely be unable to use this location while it is undergoing emergency restoration. You won’t always be able to prepare for these types of incidents and having insurance can help you with the financial losses you could suffer.

2. What Does It Cover?

While property insurance usually covers physical damages, it cannot help you with any income that might be lost while you rebuild your business. That is where interruption insurance comes in. With this type of insurance, you can expect to be compensated for expenses such as rent and moving costs incurred by temporarily relocating your business, operating expenses and profits that you would have earned if you were able to operate as usual.

3. What Is Not Covered?

This type of insurance can be helpful, but it does have some limits. There are a few things that it won’t cover. These include closures caused by power outages, utilities and unaccounted income. You will also be unqualified for coverage if you have only a partially closed operation where access is limited, but you are still able to conduct business.

When you are considering the type of insurance you need, you probably won’t think twice about getting property insurance, but don’t forget about what happens after the property has been damaged. Business interruption insurance can help keep your company from suffering financially while you rebuild.

The Mitigation Process: How to Prevent Roof Damage

If you experience any commercial storm damage in Flushing, NY SERVPRO can help

Roof damage mitigation is the process of protecting your roof from further damage; however, a better practice is to try and prevent damage from occurring in the first place. While it seems like this is an impossibility, as the weather in Flushing, NY, can be unpredictable, a vigilant homeowner can help to minimize the threat of damage.

1. Prune Your Trees

While wind damage often removes shingles and can even have the power to remove roofs, most damage caused by the wind is inflicted by flying debris, likely tree branches. Ensuring that your trees are trimmed and any dead branches removed is an excellent way to minimize this risk.

2. Check Your Gutters

Often a dreaded job for most homeowners, cleaning your gutters is an essential practice that protects the integrity of your roof and prevents one of the most common causes of roof damage. When a homeowner allows gutters to become clogged, they increase the risk of water runoff, which in turn can get under the flashing and begin rotting out your roof decking. The best way to prevent this from happening is to clean your gutters regularly and inspect that they are draining appropriately.

3. Inspect Your Home

Lastly, after any storms and at the change of every season, you or a professional should inspect your roof, inside and out. You can examine the interior of your home by going into your attic and looking for any signs of light coming through the roof because this indicates a hole in the roofing above. While inspecting the outside of your roof, you should be looking for any missing shingles, or divots, or other signs of damage. Finding any issues early on can potentially the reduce the risk of costly expenses later.

Roof damage is common, but it doesn’t have to be costly to repair. If a homeowner is vigilant about inspecting and fixing any minor issues early on, then your average roof should last about 20 to 25 years.

Mopping Up Mold After a Flood

The aftermath of a flood in Queens, NY, can be overwhelming. Such widespread damage may be enough to overwhelm your senses, but what you can’t see may be just as alarming. The humidity and moisture following a flood can provide the perfect environment for mold growth in your home.

Safety First.

If you are going to enter a home that has suffered flood damage, there are several precautions you should take:

• Check gas and power. Before entering any structure, make sure the gas and electricity are both turned off and look for any damaged gas or power lines.• Check for structural damage. Make sure there are no sagging ceilings or other structural damage that would make it unsafe to enter the home.• Cover your hands. If you are going to be handling things that may have mold growth, cover your skin with thick rubber gloves.• Cover your mouth. Using a handkerchief may not be enough to keep out mold spores. It is best to use a face mask with a respirator to protect your lungs.• Cover your eyes. Goggles that fit snugly around your eyes can help keep out dust and other small particles. Avoid goggles with air vents, as they will not provide the same protection.

Clean Up.

One of the first things homeowners need to do after a disaster is assess the damage to their homes. Documenting the disaster may be helpful for insurance purposes, so photograph each room before beginning cleanup activities.

Next, determine how much of your home was affected. The Environmental Protection Agency says that areas smaller than 10 square feet can often be addressed by the home owner but suggests that anything larger may be best dealt with by remediation professionals.

Time is essential, as bacteria can grow quickly in standing water and mold may grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours. Qualified professionals in Queens, NY, are often the best resources for remediation following a flood because of the tight timeframe and potential for hazardous health conditions if not handled properly.

After a flood, prevent mold growth by cleaning up quickly. Take appropriate safety precautions and contact professionals for expert help.

For Immediate Service in Your Neighborhood, Call SERVPRO

We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

24-Hour Emergency Service

Faster to Any-Sized Disaster

Highly Trained Restoration Technicians

A Trusted Leader in the Restoration Industry

Locally Owned and Operated

Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 – 347-233-2305

Residential Services

Whether your Queens home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and can make your property look its best. Learn more about our residential services:

Water Damage Restoration

Fire Damage Restoration

Mold Remediation

Storm Damage Restoration

Cleaning Services

Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to strike your Queens commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business

CALL SERVPRO OF OZONE PARK/ JAMAICA BAY TODAY - 347-233-2305

Faster to your Neighborhood Water Damage Event

Flooding and water emergencies don’t wait for regular business hours and neither do we.

Flooding usually occurs when you least expect it, especially while you are away on vacation. SERVPRO of Ozone Park / Jamaica Bay provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flooding and water damage is very invasive to a home or building. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. SERVPRO of Ozone Park / Jamaica Bay arrives quickly and starts the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage and the cleaning and restoration costs. A speedy response to the initial damage is the key to lowering a claim.

Ozone Park/ Jamaica Bay 24 Hour Emergency Water Damage Service

SERVPRO of Ozone Park/Jamaica Bay provides 24 hour fire and water damage restoration service in Queens and Brooklyn

SERVPRO of Ozone Park/ Jamaica Bay is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small.

When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to HelpCall Today - 347-233-2305

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Ozone Park/ Jamaica Bay has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

Your name and contact information

Your insurance information (if applicable)

The street address of the water-damaged home or business

When did the flooding or water damage occur?

What caused the water damage (if known)?

Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Ozone Park/ Jamaica Bay

SERVPRO of Ozone Park/ Jamaica Bay specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

CALL SERVPRO OF OZONE PARK/ JAMAICA BAY TODAY - 347-233-2305

SERVPRO of Ozone Park / Jamaica Bay specializes in storm and flood damage restoration. Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Queens, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.